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Rules and Regulations

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Rules and Regulations

During the period between January 2009 and December 2011, the bound edition of the US Code of Federal Regulations increased by 11,327 pages – a 7.4 percent increase. In 2009, the increase in the number of pages was the most for any year since 2002 – 3.4 percent or 5,359 pages. Over the past decade, the federal government has issued almost 38,000 new final rules. That brought the total of the Federal Regulations at the end of 2011 to 169,301 pages. That is more than double the number of pages needed to publish the regulations back in 1975 when the bound edition consisted of 71,244 pages.  All of these regulations are contained in over 215 volumes, which occupy shelf space in excess of 19 feet. It should be noted that these rules and regulations apply only to those issued by the Federal Government; not counted are the innumerable state, county and city regulations imposed upon the citizens.

Most certainly and understandably, there exists in the country a painful, pleading hue and cry, complaining of the excessive number and complexity of the governmental rules and regulations, which restrict individual freedom and confuse the citizens. Of course, during each election cycle politicians respond to the public’s demand for a lessening of the regulations by promising to reform the entire process. However, once the election is completed, they proceed to draft more rules and regulations and the cycle continues, with no reform.

There is another organization that faces complaints about its rules and regulations. One of the most common complaints about the Catholic Church is that it is the “church of rules and regulations.” Or “Catholicism is only about rules and regulations, always trying to limit my freedom.” Truly the Catholic Church has a list of its rules and regulations, but this list is decidedly different from governmental rules, both in its size and complexity. It can be contained on only one sheet of paper, occupying no shelf space. Its simplicity is so inherent in its decrees that one instinctively knows the rules without even being able to read them. The rules and regulations of Catholicism are all contained in the Ten Commandments; simple, to the point, easy to understand, and bound closely to the very nature of man. These are listed below.

  1. I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange gods before me.
  2. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
  3. Remember to keep holy the LORD’S Day.
  4. Honor your father and your mother.
  5. You shall not kill.
  6. You shall not commit adultery.
  7. You shall not steal.
  8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
  9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
  10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

As simple and direct as these commandments are, Jesus Christ further simplified these easy to understand Ten Commandments into two, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” The Catholic Church mirrors Jesus’ love for mankind in the simplicity and directness of its statues. Man’s true freedom and happiness are enhanced when he observes the Church’s few basic rules. Concerning the Ten Commandments, the brilliant British author, G.K. Chesterton, commented, “Throughout history men have certainly failed to live up to them. But in modern times, men have more disastrously failed in trying to live without them. But it is only in establishing and obeying certain rules that freedom is possible.” (As quoted in “Common Sense 101” by Dale Ahlquist)

“And by this we may be sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  He who says “I know him” but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: he who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” 1 John 2, 3-6

 

 

It is a Bumpy Road

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It is a Bumpy Ride

Our Jeep sped easily along the paved road, encountering no obstacles, while consuming the miles in a much appreciated timely manner. Yet while traveling just a few miles in the rear, the Jeep was forced to navigate bumpy, deeply rutted terrain….one could not call it a road. Only with the help of some local people, who helped push the vehicle out of some deep holes and who provided some much needed water to cool the Jeep’s radiator and engine, was the vehicle able to traverse the difficult terrain, until it finally emerged onto a newly paved section of road. At times there was doubt if it would really be able to reach the paved road; there was a real fear that the journey would end haplessly in desperation and fear.

While we could relax temporarily on the obstacle free, paved road, we knew that another section of uneven, rugged terrain awaited us in an upcoming portion of our journey. It would again be a time requiring large doses of fortitude, determination, and cooperation if we were to reach our destination. Will we again, as we did during the previous rough terrain, ask ourselves, “Is our destination worth the effort and risk we were taking?”

“Is it worth the risk, effort, and possible losses?” This question frequently enters one’s mind when a journey of any kind is contemplated. We invariably understand that the realization of any worthwhile goal will require sacrifice, bumpy terrain, mental and physical effort, and often help from others. Is the destination or goal worth it? If not, one should stop and get out of the way of those willing to accept the challenges to achieve the goal.

So it is when one seeks the union of self with God. The road will be bumpy, requiring difficult choices, often requiring mental and physical sacrifice. Jesus never promised man a smooth, care free road to the divine life; rather He indicated that it would be bumpy and laden with obstacles. Is the divine life, the union of oneself with God in heaven, worth the effort? Am I or anyone else truly willing to navigate the seemly unending challenges and perplexing obstacles to the goal of union with God? Christ promised that He would help us meet these obstacles and challenges. What He and His Church did not promise was a smooth even highway. Each one of us must face all of life’s bewildering complexities, choosing God and eternal happiness over temporary pleasures, while forcefully and convincingly answering the question, “Is it worth the effort?”, with a resounding Yes. The attainment of the divine life will require overcoming the very self….the self which will present one with numerous obstacles.  One must fully grasp that God is worth all we can give Him….and much more.

One’s journey to union with God will be filled with obstacles and daunting challenges….it will be a bumpy ride…., but at the end of the journey one can rest in God’s truth and protection.